Middletown transcript., 1887-04-14
UNCLE HOWARD.


girl in another part of the room, l
thought you were asleep and what
would the good doctor say, if he were
to come and find his little patient
gone? just to think if my little
brother should go out this pleasant
morning and catch cold, and have to
go through his awful sickness again |"
ANY way" she continued, going
over where the little fellow was lying,
and brushing back his curls, II think
l may promise you a walk next week,
the weather permitting"
Why only see, Edith, I am quite
streng," and here the small form arose
from the lounge, on which he had
been lying, and started to run across
theroom, but would have fallen, had
not hisAister's watchful care and kind
assistance prevented.
cob! Edith" and BERTHE burst
into tears, thought I was so strong,
1 get so tired of sitting still all the
time, and I wish your singing scholars
were away, so you could stay with
me-"
Have patience, little BROTHER"
said Edith, You will be strong very
soon now and I would not leave you
one moment, you very well know, if
it were not necessary"
"I know it, and I am very selfish
and naughty, to say SO about such
good sister as you are and now please
put my chair by the open window,
that I may feel the fresh air, and see
those lovely flowers, in that garden.
They always make me think Of man.
ma, and I shall never forget how we
used to gather flowers to put in her
room, during her sickness"
Il often think of it too," replied
his sister. Little did we then think,
it would be the last flowers she would
want on earth. Now will sing to
you, for must see those tears gone
before I start" Edith's rich, clear
voice rang through the room, chang
ing Bertie's tears into the brightest
smiles by her song.
GOOD bye,' said Edith, a few mo-
ments later, going out of the room,
and waving her hand as she spoke.
81 shall not be gone long, and you
have plenty of books to amuse your
self with" and so saying she left the
room.
Edith and BERTHE Morrison were
orphans. And Edith having had
very fine voice when younger, had i'm
proved it, by having it cultivated, and
her talent had now become useful, for
by giving singing lessons shesupported
herself and BERTHE. They lived with
a kind lady, in pleasant part of the
town of s.. She was very kind to
them, and having no children of her
own, often amused BERTHE and gave
him small presents. He had been sick
all the spring and was just now recov-
ering. 1t had been impossible for
Edith during his sickness to give her
regular lessons, and she feared that
some of her scholars had perhaps got
weary of waiting, aud some new
teacher had occupied her place. 1t
was as she feared, only three of her
scholars had remained faithful.
As Edith walked homeward that
beautiful summer morning, she felt
more sad and discouraged than she
had any time since her parents
death /; puzzled where to find more
scholars, and how to make BERTHE
happy and comfortable.
Before her mothers death, she had
promised to take good care of BERTHE,
and bring him up in the way which
she knew her mother would have
done. She never had any trouble, how
ever, in telling or teaching him any
thing, as he was very smart and
obedient.
The next house to where they
boarded, was a handsome mansion
with beautiful grounds; they could
view the large gardens and conserva-
tory from their window; and BERTHE
often wished for some of the luscious
fruit and bright tinted flowers.
Edith often noticed a gentleman
walking around the grounds, and he
would sometimes look at BERTHE, as he
sat in the window, and smile as he
passed.
Now it happened that Edith this
morning as she came nearer home
thought that she would venture to 60
to the large house and ask for few
flowers; so she ascended the large
stone steps and rang the the bell; the
gentleman answered her ring and
Edith made known her errand,
Certainly, you may have some
flowers" he answered to her inquiry,
gather fresh ones every day if you
wish. have often noticed your little
! brother as I passed, he is beautiful
child = and after telling her to wait g
moment, went and got large pair o.